Due to strict state controls, Iranian media sees relatively little import and export commerce compared to more liberal states. Modern communications technology, however, give Iranians a degree of maneuverability around state censors, and offers increasing access to the global media system.
The World-Wide Web
The Internet in Iran is increasingly regulated and censored by the IRIB. The Internet has long been seen and utilized as a way around government censorship. The government, however, restricts access to certain websites. This censorship was accelerated following the 2009 election protests, when social media sites like Facebook and Twitter were used as organizational tools and news broadcasting vehicles by protesters. Iranians often utilize virtual private networks, or VPNs, get around state censors, but the government began restricting VPN use in 2013. There are still many ways to mask your IP address, though, and Iranians are usually able to get around government blocks. Iranians continue to utilize the web, and it’s ever-expanding pool of applications and resources, as a means of accessing the global media system.
Television
Iranian state television is heavily regulated by the IRIB to weed out "immoral" content and western influences. An estimated 45-65 percent of Iranians, however, have access to satellite television. Several states, including the United States (Voice of America Persian), United Kingdom (BBC Persian), and Israel (Voice of Israel) operate Persian language news stations that they broadcast into Iran via satellite, which the IRIB periodically jams. The IRIB also broadcasts satellite channels in English (Press TV), Arabic (Al Alam), and Persian to 45 countries, using at least 8 private satellite companies.
A news program on Voice of American Persian, which broadcasts criticisms of the Iranian government's treatment of Sufi Muslims. The IRIB routinely jams the signals of such stations.
Private companies also aim to capitalize on the Iranian market by beaming stations to its civilians. Two private stations, Farsi1 and MBC Persia, are owned by Rupert Murdoch’s Newscorp. These private stations bring popular movies and television series, including western favorites, to the Iranian people and are largely tolerated by the Government.
An MBC Persia monthly schedule trailer from July 2012.
Cinema
Film in Iran seems to be the one area that sees a great deal of legitimate, legal import and export. Iranians have access to foreign films, including a wide range of popular western films. However, these films go through rigorous IRIB censorship before being made available to the public. Frequent edits include adding clothing to, or obstructing the view of, immodestly clad actors and actresses, as well as changing alcoholic drinks to juice or soda, removing displays of affection, or even removing women completely from shots in which they are deemed too close to men.
Before and after comparisons of censored foreign films.
Iran has a booming domestic film industry. Director Asghar Farhadi, in particular, is internationally acclaimed for his work in Cinema. He and several of his films have won awards at major film festivals around the world. In 2012, Farhadi’s A Separation became the first Iranian film to win an Academy Award, when it won in the Best Foreign Film category. It was the second Iranian film to be nominated by the Academy after Majid Majidi’s Children of Heaven in 1998. A Separation was also nominated in for Best Original Screenplay.
The trailer for Farhadi's Oscar winning film A Seperation.
The trailer for Majid Majidi's Oscar nominated film Children of Heaven.
Radio
Like satellite television, Radio is a medium over which many western nations try to reach the Iranian populace. As with the satellite television market, the U.S., UK, and Israel all broadcast Persian language stations into Iran, which the Iranian government regularly tries to block and jam. Persian language radio is also very prevalent outside of Iran, including in several US cities with large Persian populations. Similar to Satellite TV, the IRIB also broadcasts radio stations in Persian, English, and Arabic, which can also be streamed online.
An English language French news broadcast, highlighting Israel's Persian language radio station Voice of Israel.
Music
Like all forms of media, music inside Iran is heavily regulated and censored by the government. The IRIB seeks to limit Iranian’s access to western music, the vast majority of which is banned inside the country. Iranians, however, purchase and download popular music from around the world illicitly. Additionally, Iran's considerable youth is the driving force behind a thriving underground music scene. There are many popular Persian language artists both outside and inside of Iran, which are popular across the Persian-speaking world, including the United States. Hip Hop, in particular, is enjoying surging popularity in the country, which has a rich history of poetry.
YAS is an Iranian rapper, who was inspired as a child by listening to Tupac albums smuggled into the country by his father. He is the first rapper approved by the IRIB to legally release music in Iran.
Print Media
Western newspapers are banned by the IRIB, and their websites are also blocked. Iranians must find ways around government censors to view these papers. Iranian newspapers are available online. The Tehran Times advertises itself as “Iran’s leading international newspaper” and is Iran’s leading English language paper. In terms of content, the Times is molded similarly to leading western papers, but offers a typically more pro-Iranian stance and is centric to issues pertinent to the region.
The front page of the Tehran Times' website from March 11, 2013, juxtaposed with the front page of The New York Times' website from the same day (click to enlarge). Note the contrast in top stories, as well as the absence of advertisements for the Tehran Times.